U2’s sessions in Fez: the video

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The Observer’s Sean O’Hagan, a long time friend of the band, spent 18 months following them from Fez to Dublin, as they recorded New Line On The Horizon.

He’s captured his travels on film and in part one of this exclusive – but brief- footage the band begins sessions in a converted riad in Morocco.

Watch the video on guardian.co.uk

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Daily U2 News Digest for 2008-12-19

generic (feed #9) 10:56pm U2 stock buyback puts cloud over music mega-deals – Times of the Internet
generic (feed #9) 1:11am Boxed set focuses on U2 at Red Rocks – 2TheAdvocate
generic (feed #9) 1:40am Arts, Briefly After Delay, U2 on the Horizon – New York Times
generic (feed #9) 5:24am U2 stock buyback puts cloud over music mega-deals – AFP
generic (feed #9) 6:38am Learn More About iPod – ScienceBlog.com
generic (feed #9) 7:01am Jeremy Piven, Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet – International Herald Tribune
generic (feed #9) 8:04am U2 announce album date – TeleText
generic (feed #9) 8:10am New U2 album soon – Examiner.com
generic (feed #9) 8:20am New album from U2 is on the horizon – The Associated Press
generic (feed #9) 8:55am Kim Kardashian' wishes you a Happy New Year, U2 sets album release … – The Plain Dealer – cleveland.com
generic (feed #9) 9:25am U2 Announces Release Date Of New Album “No Line On The Horizon” – AHN

Bono plays Dr Robert in Beatles-themed film

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Bono plays ‘Dr Robert’ in ‘Across The Universe’, a film based on music by The Beatles. It combines live action, animation and puppetry.

Across The Universe‘, directed by Julie Taymor, is the story of a Liverpool doc worker (played by Jim Sturgess), who travels to America to find his long lost father. On his way, he meets an American girl (Evan Rachel Wood) and joins the anti-war movement.

All of the musical film’s main characters are named after Beatles songs. Bono’s character is called Dr Robert. Eddie Izzard and Salma Hayek are also in the film.

The film is set for a UK and Ireland release on September 28.

source: Hot Press

Step up for the U2 Marathon

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Tune in to WBWC 88.3fm The Sting today to hear Todd Richards and Mary Cipriani host the 2007 U2 Marathon, back by popular demand.

In this 20th anniversary year of The Joshua Tree they will bring you 18 hours of U2 music featuring rare tracks, classic cuts, and a preview of the new 3-D film U23D. Fans take note, a representative from 3Ality will be joining the show at 1pm to discuss their U23D project.

Find more details at wbwc.com. Phone the request line at 440-826-7846, email requests to request@wbwc.com or use the request form.

The Joshua Tree’s powerful impact

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the release of The Joshua Tree, Andrew Collins looks back on the album and its powerful impact.

“But for an instance, U2 had the world in the palm of their hand. None of the irony that would dog them in the 90s, less of the piety that still puts people off them, and more of the wonder. They had such a profound, moving, mobilising, even politicising effect on the young, grant-assisted, long-haired me, I will probably always love them, like the old Stones fans love the Stones.”

Read the full review and enjoy more of BBC 6 Music’s trip down the memory lane.

Where were you when you heard it first?

Bono’s Greatest Gig Ever

The Guardian have asked a panel of artists and writers to describe the concerts that changed their lives. Bono picks a gig by The Clash, at Trinity College in Dublin, 1977:

Can’t remember the set list, can’t remember much about the music, to be honest. I just know that everything changed that night, and I’m sure it was not just for me.

It wasn’t so much a musical event. It was more like the Red Army had arrived, on a cold October night, to force feed a new cultural revolution, punk rock. Marching boots and the smell of sulphur.

As I sat in the box room and stared out the window the next day, it was very clear. The world is more malleable than you think; reality is what you can get away with.

(read more)

What is your greatest gig ever?